Customs Seized My ATI Folding Stock - Update Page #3

mailed parts

I have never had anything held. I have only ordered accessories, like trigger group parts, scope mounts, sights etc. Never a receiver, barrel or major part. ususally with mine, they have just looked at it, attached a fee, and sent it through. Guess I've been lucky.
 
my situation was with canada borders services. Funny thing is I have had many orders from u.s. processed with no problem, even after customs opened them to see they were gun parts. this one just went all wrong.
 
45ACPKING said:
I went through the entire appeal process from A to freakin Z, was told that a decision qould be made by a magistrate. Never heard a word back.... I gave up on this months ago after many calls , just kept getting told that a decision had not been made yet.... don't care no more. 65.00 u.s. ain't worth the hassle , ya know?
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hey 45, i personally don't agree, unless you are super duper busy, i would persue this... its not just because of the 65 bux, but its more principle than anything else... its frustrating that you know something as being legit, and some yahoo at the mail centre telling that its some kinda prohib device...
 
you know.... I hadn't really thought about this whole thing for a long time till I saw this thread. Talkin about it has kinda got me all fired up again, I think I'll take your advice and on monday I'm going to get the most senior person i can find on the phone at border services ontario and "politely" ask them to expedite my perfectly legal and legitimate parts order. I'll try and keep ya'll posted.
 
When I first started my business I figured it would be a simple matter to have inventory delivered south of the border and clear it through customs myself.
Silly boy!
A couple of sessions dealing with that massive book and the border and customs line-ups and I now buy everything I sell from Canadian distributors. They earn their mark-up, and their freight forwarders earn their fees!
 
leftent said:
When I first started my business I figured it would be a simple matter to have inventory delivered south of the border and clear it through customs myself.
Silly boy!
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I have to disagree, since I started doing it myself last August, I have saved tons of money in brokerage fees and freight forwarding. Since I only use sections 73.00 to 93.00 the book is easy to figure out. What really bugged my ass was that some of the boys and girls at the CBSA couldn't read or understand the book themselves. They once classified a rifle scope as a field artillery piece and I have the import documents to prove it.

I buy as much as I can from our Canadian suppliers but when necessity dictates, I don't hesitate to import from the US.
 
Here are my woes. I had ten PINNED SKS-D mags taken from me by Canada Customs at the airport. I got them back after a year long battle:

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Note the dates, seized on June 3, 2003, and I got them back June 23, 2004. Don't be in a rush and practice your letter writing skills.
 
On Saturday, I called the number on the letter and left a message. I was polite and indicated that:
the stock on its own was not a prohibited device under the Firearms Act,
that the minimum length requirements would be met when installed,
that the stock could be commercially purchased in Canada (left the Marstar website on the message)
and that ATI listed two other Canadian businesses on their web site.
I left my home and work number.

This morning at about 9:00 AM, phone rang at work. The gentleman I talked to was polite and informed me that the stock was being released, although it would be probably a week before it left their shop. He said that when it was first opened, the inspector didnt know what it was and sent it there for inspection to make sure it wasnt a bull pup stock.

I guess I am still a litttle annoyed as I have been waiting for over 4 weeks now. However; its done and over and I didnt have to fight with them for its release.

Thanks for the advice and PM's I received on this one folks - I would have had to tapped into a lot of the information I was sent if I hadnt made out so well today.

Regards
 
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CBSA agents aren't up on classifications, or even their own role in enforcement. I import stuff from the US all the time. The last conflict I had with them was importing Class III body armour. First they thought it was subject to ITAR (it isn't - only Class IV is), then they thought it was prohibited in BC (it isn't - anyone with a PAL or engaged in security can possess it).

When dealing with them, just always be polite, present your case clearly (and use reference documentation), and keep all the correspondence you exchange with them.

I'm on good terms with my local agents now. Often if I'm importing anything under $100 they don't even bother assessing it for duty or tax. Here's a hint: do your clearance on a Friday afternoon...
 
Buddy bought an old BMW motorcycle in the US...
'Had it shipped to an address in Michigan...
I helped him go get it....We rented a trailer and hooked it up to my truck...
'Stopped at US customs for the export paperwork... Then crossed into Canada at Sarina.
'Went into the office.... did whatever, paid fees etc.
An hour down the 402 'buddy reads through the papers...

CBSA charged him $100 air conditioning surcharge/tax.
 
P of PDent said:
It is an important distintion if it was US or Canadian Customs that seized the goods. If the items are checked on the US side (and this happens frequently with gun parts) then all of their export regs come inton play. Folding stocks are not controlled in Canada however the export of folding stocks from the US is now refused to Canada if it is for firearms other than shotguns. The only way we can get these through now are with end user certificates from law enforcemnt or military. We are limited to existing inventories. Canadian customs does not enforce US regulations and cannot send them back if the items are legal in Canada. The $100 limit previously allowed does not apply to guns parts used for the the operation of the firearm. These regs have changed several times in the past and this is why Canadian dealers have problems keeping some hard to find items in stock and when they arrive why the price is more the the US retail.
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The amount of #### someones "friend" that sent ###x gunpart up from the US could wind up in is not worth the few $$ saved vs buying it here. I don't think too many people understand the consequences.
 
Holy smokes - when I looked at the thread, couldnt figure out why it had a green arrow next to it indicating that I had commented on it. Then I looked at it and realized I started it - 13 years ago! I cant even remember what the stock was for or what it was installed on as it is no longer in my inventory!
 
Skip said:
Before you jump on customs officers that he should "know", remember, that in print form the code and tariff is several inches thick, and the descriptions general. Virtually EVERYTHING has a commodity code, and many items can be classed under different codes. With the heightened security issues at the border, an officer is not going to take a chance on pooching his career because he was the one who let the prohibited item through that hung the Minister out to dry.
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Excellent points - add to that that there are literally millions of different items in every shape, size, colour and use imaginable. There is no way any human being can know the admissibility status of even 1% of those items. Think of all the seeds, chemical compounds, electronics, foods, OTC meds, books, you name it, that come in every single day from all over the world. For the OP, I just hope it gets resolved quickly, and that it's not ITAR covered, so he and his buddy don't end up in doo-doo in Trumpland.
 
Papaclaude said:
For the OP, I just hope it gets resolved quickly, and that it's not ITAR covered, so he and his buddy don't end up in doo-doo in Trumpland.
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Didn't read the whole thread, did you?

We are coming up on the 13th anniversary of the resolution of this issue. When George W Bush JR was president. Lol.

I almost took the necro bait myself...
 
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